Kolkata, May 31: Central Minister for Power and Housing and Urban Affairs, Manohar Lal, reviewed initiatives related to electricity and urban development in West Bengal on Saturday. Following the meeting, he presented a roadmap from the central government aimed at strengthening infrastructure, improving electricity distribution, and enhancing urban sanitation and infrastructure across the state.
Manohar Lal announced that the next phase of the smart meter program will commence in July 2026, targeting nearly two crore electricity consumers in West Bengal. The initial phase will focus on government offices and premises, with plans to gradually include large consumers and eventually extend to residential users.
Consumers will have the option to choose between prepaid and postpaid plans. Under this initiative, the central government will provide a subsidy of ₹900 per smart meter, while consumers will contribute approximately ₹100 per month towards installation costs.
The minister emphasized that this initiative aims to enhance billing efficiency, reduce losses, and ensure a reliable, transparent, and clean electricity supply system. Currently, transmission and distribution losses stand at around 12 percent. To strengthen this sector, a comprehensive resource allocation plan will be developed within the next two months. The government is also working on a revised tariff structure and measures to address pending liabilities.
He mentioned that approximately ₹800 crore in subsidy assistance and recovery of outstanding amounts will be pursued, alongside plans to manage an estimated accumulated loss of around ₹15,000 crore from previous years.
The minister stressed the need to improve operational efficiency and financial stability to ensure uninterrupted power supply. He highlighted the implementation of the Prime Minister’s Solar Rooftop Scheme, which is being executed in collaboration with the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. This scheme targets consumers with rooftop solar installations of less than 3 kilowatts, benefiting households and rural consumers by reducing electricity bills and promoting clean energy adoption.
Urban transport infrastructure remains a key focus area. Under the metro rail financing model, both the central and state governments will contribute 15 percent of the project cost, while the remaining 70 percent will be financed through institutional loans. Metro rail projects are typically considered for cities with populations exceeding 2.5 million.
The minister noted that ₹40,000 crore has been allocated for urban infrastructure development under the Urban Challenge Fund. The proposed financing structure includes ₹10,000 crore from both the central and state governments, with the remaining ₹20,000 crore expected from financial institutions.
Reviewing sanitation initiatives, the minister announced that registration for the Clean Survey in West Bengal will remain open until June 15. He also highlighted the launch of the Clean App, which allows citizens to upload geo-tagged photos to report sanitation issues. Municipal officials will monitor complaints and take timely action through a technology-based feedback mechanism.
The minister stated that all identified old waste sites in urban areas are targeted for scientific processing within a year, supported by ₹550 crore in financial assistance from the central government. Under the Clean Himalayan Cities initiative, ₹1,000 crore has been allocated for 13 Himalayan states, including five cities in West Bengal: Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Kurseong, Siliguri, and Mirik.
Manohar Lal announced that a comprehensive survey of domestic and public toilets will be conducted statewide within a month to assess sanitation coverage and identify deficiencies. He reaffirmed the central government’s commitment to West Bengal’s development, stating that coordinated efforts in electricity, urban infrastructure, sanitation, and clean energy will significantly contribute to improving the quality of life and realizing the vision of development.
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